s Concerned
F E L I X , Friday S e p t e m b e r 29 1986 2
Bigoted Re-Apps
Dep Reps Defended
Sexist?
Dear Dave, Dear Dave, Dear Dave, Again and again I am appalled As one of the people who signed by the attitudes of some of the As a resident of Beit Hall I have the Barclays Bank Anti-Apartheid just received a copy of "Otto", the Dear Dave, people I meet, and nothing disturbs leaflet in this year's handbook I am Beit Hall newsletter. I am me more than some of the sexist I feel I must reply to a point slightly concerned about a couple disappointed to see the sort of raised by Hugh Stiles in his recent and racist views I hear from people of issues it has raised. Several impression it gives to Freshers. It opinion article (FELIX, Sept 7). who should know better. people have suggested to me that contains what purports to be a If you ask one of these people if He suggested that CCUs officers of the union have abused timetable of Freshers' Week. If manipulate the Dep Rep vote on they are racist/sexist their reply is their positions of responsibility by Freshers take any notice of this at Council by threatening to cut an alarmed "Of course not". What distributing their own propaganda all they will be stupid if they attend departmental society funds, hence they mean is that they are not through union resources.I wonder any of the Freshers' events. I was securing a C C U majority on consciously discriminatory. whether this insert would have also saddened to read a revue of the Council. The idea is totally Anybody who has been brought up been allowed if it had not been Union Bar that was full of dated unrealistic and slanderous. Dep with the attitudes around today, I espousing a political cause cliches. Imperial College Union has Reps are intelligent people with contend, cannot help but supported by the President. invested, on behalf of its members, minds of their own and may vote as discriminate against certain I have happily associated my a significant amount of money in they see fit. Furthermore, if a CCU groups. It is this unconscious name with the Anti-Apartheid developing the bar, as part of an did threaten Departmental society discrimination that is the greatest campaign as I believe that the time effort to make the Union Building funds, the Dep Rep concerned need danger to the multicultural society when our elected representatives the centre of social life at College. only publicise the fact and untold that exists in Britain today, not the should have unequivocally done ravings of the National Front and Everyone involved in this unpopularity and damage would the same is long past. To those who process expects to meet with a great result for the C C U concerned the occasional Tory MP. say that Barclays are an innocent deal of difficulty in removing the (especially if ICU were tofindout). What do I mean by unconscious bystander in the Apartheid regime stigma attached to "The Union" This, coupled with the fact that discrimination? I mean the I would reply that even if there were amongst returning students. most Dep Reps, unfortunately, assumption that certain jobs are some truth in this it is far less However the job will be impossible don't attend Council, makes carried out by a certain sex, that unfortunate than the mounting if their bigoted views are imposed Hugh's idea of a CCU conspiracy certain races have certain death toll in the black townships. on Freshers, especially in such a to take over ICU seem laughable. characteristics and so on, that we As the British government has forceful way by re-apps in an do without thinking. The exact A chairman of Council must be resolutely resisted proper sanctions official newsletter. nature of these opinions is impartial. I wouldn't like to think in its attempts to protect unimportant; what is important is If it is not sufficient reason that that there is any bias which will investments in South Africa it is the profits of the bar belong to the show through in the coming year. that they exist but we are extremely becoming more and more Students' Union, then the editors, reluctant to admit that they do. Finally, I would like to say I necessary for independent groups from a point of view of accuracy, appreciate the work of the Major What is a society so ridden with to make whatever gestures they can should have taken time to walk 50 Sub Committees (MSCs) and feel discrimination doing to improve to protect our long term standing yards across Beit Quad to find if we mustn't always think in terms of the situation? Unfortunatly, by its with the Southern African nations. there was anything better they MSC/CCU conflict. I bare Hugh very nature, it is the minorities that Unfortunately I C Union has no could tell the new residents of Beit no malice, I merely wish to clear up are discriminated against, and clear policy on the South African Hall about the Union. May I make a piece of Anti-CCU story telling. unless the ruling majority decide to issue. In this case it is inevitable a plea to all Freshers; there are do something about it, it is the Yours Sincerely that commercial pressures on such more than enough people willing to nature of our society that nothing Duncan Royle enterprises as the handbook will give you their opinion, but please President City and Guilds Uniondoes happen. All the media are in take priority in deciding what reserve judgement until you have the control of the majority; they are advertising to carry. However seen for yourself. very slow to change, and, without purely commercial criteria would Yours sincerely, any pressure, why should they? have suggested that the drought Jackie Pierce, Only the ordinary person can do victims in northern Africa should IC Union Deputy President. anything about it. I support any have been left to die - to their credit idea that makes you think about millions of people decided these discrimination, instead of were not the only criteria and reinforcing it. One minor point is flocked to support the 'Band Aid' the use of the word 'Chairman'. It, Reprinted from FELIX 745 appeals. It is time Imperial students however slightly, reinforces the decided where they stand one way Dear Sir/Madam, sexual stereotype. 'Chairperson' or or another on this issue at a Union I am writing to you as I believe somebody else present in the flat. just 'Chair' is better, if only because meeting so that the decisions are that in your capacity as President The student would not be expected it makes you stop and think that not delegated to individuals by of the Students' Union you may to keep her company and would be the majority of 'Chairmen' ARE default. Similarly, maybe there well be able to be of assistance to free to read or pursue their studies men. I am concerned about the should be a clear policy on who is me and my family. as they wish. number of people who think that allowed to send out material via the To put you in the picture, my If you think it would be at all this whole thing is a 'lefty' idea and freshers mailing. daughter has been in hospital for possible that you could put us in rubbish the whole thing. If being I do not really believe there several months and is to return touch with a student who could against discrimination is a 'lefty' should be any conflict over this home shortly to recouperate. Her help us out in the way described idea, then I hope that you are all issue but perhaps matters should be illness is in no way infectious but 'leftys'. above I should be most grateful. I clarified. I wonder what sort of fuss the doctors believe that she will should add that we live in South Bringing the issue closer to need about a year to recover, Kensington, near the Gloucester home, just because there has never might have arisen had the Conservative Society asked to be before she can return to work. Road tube and that, if required, we been a woman in charge of a Major able to distribute counter- Initially, I shall be able to stay with would be happy to provide you Subcommittee of IC Union does with references. I can be reached propaganda in reply to the her but after that I wish to make not mean there never will, and to Barclay's leaflet. I hope they would arrangements for someone to come during the day at the address and deal tiny blow against discriminatto our home every day so that she is telephone number given above. have got a fair hearing. I hope ionn myself, I am announcing that Executives will avoid getting not left entirely alone every day. I With kind regards, I prefer to be called the 'Chair' of confused between their rights as therefore thought it might be Yours faithfully, Publications Board. You can call members of IC Union and their possible that a student would be Maria Gani-Senger. me whatever you like; I'll be happy obligation to impartiality as paid willing to come in for a few hours if you just think about what you are once or twice a week during the staff, I belive they have just about saying when you say it. afternoon. I would point out that (Editor's note: Anyone interestedYours, managed so far. should contact Christine Taig in the my daughter does not need a nurse Yours looking concerned as ever Union Office). Chris Martin, but merely wishes to have Mark Cottle Chair, Publications Board.
An Appeal